What are the 5 turkey species?
America’s 5 Wild Turkey Subspecies
- Eastern Turkey Subspecies. Eastern turkeys are the most populous in the country with a flock size of about 5.3 million.
- Merriam’s Turkey Subspecies.
- Rio Grande Turkey Subspecies.
- Gould’s Turkey Subspecies.
- Osceola Turkey Subpecies.
What are the different species of turkey?
Bourbon RedBronze turkeyMidget White turkey
Wild turkey/Lower classifications
How many species of turkey are there?
The turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris, native to North America. There are two extant turkey species: the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) of eastern and central North America and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
How many species of turkey are there in the US?
The National Wild Turkey Federation website explains that the two species of turkeys are the North American and the ocellated. The North American species has five subspecies, including the Eastern, Florida (Osceola), Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Gould’s.
What are the most common turkeys?
1. Broad Breasted White. When it comes to domestic turkeys in America, the Broad Breasted White is the most common.
What is the biggest species of turkey?
The Gould’s turkey is a bird of the mountainous areas of this region. It is the largest of the five subspecies and resembles the Merriam’s turkey. They have longer legs, larger feet, and larger center tail feathers than any of the other wild turkey subspecies in North America.
What is female turkey called?
Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies. Adult females average half the size of male turkeys.
What species of turkey is in Hawaii?
First introduced in 1815 from North America as a gamebird, the wild turkey is an unexpected site along Hawaiʻi’s roadsides. At almost 4 feet long, they’re a hard-to-miss bird, though they can be well camouflaged and still in tall grass when nesting.
What is the biggest turkey?
86 lb
Fun fact: The heaviest turkey in the world weighed 86 lb
In 1989, a stag turkey named Tyson weighed 86 lb. (39.09 kg), earning it the Guinness World Record of the greatest dressed weight recorded for a turkey.
What is the rarest type of turkey?
The Auburn
The Auburn, also known as the Light Brown, is a breed of domestic turkey. A heritage turkey, the Auburn is one of the rarest varieties currently in existence. It has been referenced by name in written records since the 18th century, and is named after the light reddish-brown color of its plumage.
What is the oldest breed of turkey?
White Hollands
White Hollands Considered one of the oldest breeds of turkey the White Holland was recognized by the APA in 1874. Known for having exceptionally calm demeanors the hens lay large eggs very early and are known for broodiness.
What is the biggest turkey ever killed?
37.6 pounds
David Cody Guess of Lyon County, Kentucky, already had a huge 28-pound bird to his credit, when he killed a much bigger bird in 2015 on his family farm. The gobbler weighed an astonishing 37.6 pounds, and is the heaviest ever recorded.
What is a flock of turkey called?
Miscellaneous Trivia. Adult male turkeys are called toms, and females are called hens. Wild turkey babies are called poults, juvenile males are jakes, and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock.
What’s a baby turkey called?
poults
During the first 4 weeks of life, baby turkeys, called poults, are unable to fly and rely on their mother for protection.
What kind of turkeys are in Mexico?
The ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a species of turkey residing primarily in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, as well as in parts of Belize and Guatemala.
Where was the biggest turkey killed?
About a week after Guess registered his bird it was confirmed by the National Wild Turkey Federation that his in fact is the world’s largest wild turkey ever harvested. It was taken in the State of Kentucky in Lyon County. Its official weight was 37.61 pounds.
What is an all white turkey called?
Rarer, though, are albinos, a condition marked by white skin and feathers along with light pink or red eyes. Seeing an albino turkey would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: It’s estimated that only 1 in 100,000 Wild Turkeys is albino.
Are chocolate turkeys rare?
The Chocolate Turkey is a very rare breed of fowl with brown feathers, shanks and feet. Chocolates are one of the larger Heritage turkey varieties, but without health and mobility issues of other large breeds. The babies are brown with a light colored head.
What state eats the most turkey?
Turkey meat is commonly consumed in the United States and elsewhere.
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Which US State Raises the Most Turkeys?
| Rank | State | Number of Turkeys Raised (Millions, 2016) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 44 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 33 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 26 |
| 4 | Indiana | 20 |
What is the biggest wild turkey breed?
Eastern wild turkey
The Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo silvestris) is one of the largest of the five subspecies. Adult males, or gobblers, may weigh 20 pounds or more. The body feathers of gobblers have a rich, metallic, copper/bronze iridescence.
What’s a female turkey called?
hens
Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies. Adult females average half the size of male turkeys. poults will not survive.
Are turkeys color blind?
Turkeys also have true color vision, as well as 180-degree peripheral vision. With just a slight turn of their head, they can see 360 degrees. Therefore, their eyesight is a serious challenge for bowhunters to overcome. Turkey hunters must cover themselves in camouflage, including the face and hands.
Do turkeys lay eggs without a male?
Occasionally, the eggs of female turkeys will — without any sperm involved — spontaneously develop into embryos and then into baby turkeys (which are always males). This process is called parthenogenesis and has also been recorded in many other types of animals, including bees, lizards, and sharks.
What is a 1 year old turkey called?
Poults
But a baby turkey is actually called a poult. Poults don’t stay young for long because of the demand for turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, the average American eats about 16.4 pounds of turkey each year.
What are the 4 types of wild turkeys?
Eastern wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)